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(Reuters) – Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford has emerged as the bookmakers\’ joint-favourite to win Britain\’s sports personality of the year award after his successful campaign for school food vouchers to be provided over the summer holidays.
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British ministers originally said that school food vouchers would not be available over the long holiday, prompting the 22-year-old forward to take up the cause and reveal how he had relied on such support as a boy.
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On Tuesday, the government bowed to pressure and Prime Minister Boris Johnson\’s spokesman said it would provide a COVID summer food fund costing around 120 million pounds ($150 million).
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Rashford\’s efforts have seen his odds of 80/1 cut to 6/4, making him the joint-favourite for the BBC award alongside WBC heavyweight champion boxer Tyson Fury, according to bookmaker Paddy Power.
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Rashford has already helped to raise around 20 million pounds with charity Fareshare UK to supply meals to struggling families.
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Other contenders for the award, voted for by the public in December, include Mercedes Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton and Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson who are both at 12/1.
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Cricketer Ben Stokes won the award last year for his 50-over World Cup-winning heroics and Ashes displays against Australia.
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($1 = 0.7966 pounds)
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(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; editing by Richard Pullin)
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